One of our favorite and most needed series in Prime Time turns 10! UB has been there since the start of “black-ish.”
Today the series celebrates it’s 10th Anniversary, originally premiering on ABC on September 24th, 2014.
Invited to the the private screening with the cast back in 2014. In our review then, we stated “there are also many lessons that are taught throughout the show and its’ definitely a great show for the entire family to sit down and watch.”
We continued with “It’s amazing to see a new black show with black lead characters on network television. What’s even better is to see that the ABC network truly believes in this program from their relentless marketing campaigns. As long as people tune in and watch, it’s a win-win situation for the entire “black-ish” cast and ABC.”
“black-ish,” was described as a fun yet bold look at one man’s determination to establish a sense of cultural identity for his family.
On January 16th, 2014, ABC greenlit the pilot episode of “black-ish.”
ABC’s family comedy, “black-ish” premiered on September 24th, 2014. The series stared Anthony Anderson, Tracee Ellis Ross and special guest star Laurence Fishburne.
Like any parents, Andre “Dre” (Anthony Anderson) and Rainbow (Tracee Ellis Ross) Johnson want to give their children the best. But their offspring’s childhood is turning out to be much different than theirs. They now realize at least two things: there is a price to pay for giving their children more than what they ever had, and these loving parents are totally unprepared for the fallout.
Dre considered himself the family patriarch and when he looks at his life – he sees a beautiful wife and four kids living happily in their colonial home in the ‘burbs. But when he looks a little closer — have the trappings of success brought too much assimilation for this black family?
The world he sees has a much different lens than the one he would like his family to look through.
He may disagree with some of the liberal viewpoints of his bi-racial wife, Rainbow, an anesthesiologist. But they are in agreement that they want to successfully raise their family in a better situation than what they had.
Much to her husband’s wonderment, she believed their children can exist in a colorless society. She takes pride in that her husband will break down barriers by becoming the first black senior VP of his ad firm. She was also looking forward to the salary increase that followed.
Dre’s father, affectionately referred to as “Pops” (Laurence Fishburne), has an affinity for velour tracksuits and going to the racetrack.
He can be quite the curmudgeon and takes every opportunity to offer his opinion on family issues. But when Pops offers his usually curt and spot-on old school wisdom, it is difficult to disagree with him.
Ruby Johnson, Dre‘s mother and Pops ex, portrayed by one of our absolute favorites Jenifer Lewis also later joined the cast of “black-ish” later in the season.
Dre’s son Andre Jr. asks to be called “Andy,” and then announced that like his schoolmates, he wants a bar mitzvah for his 13th birthday — and their family isn’t Jewish.
When the boy says he wants to play for his school’s field hockey team instead of basketball, Dre has to wonder: would he rather Andre play basketball because it is a black-ish sport? Or could it be Dre wants his namesake to like the sport he prefers?
Zoey, 15, had everything going for her. Pretty, popular and super smart. However, she is dripping in privilege and unearned entitlement. Zoey’s idea of success was rooted in material things, rather than hard work.
The definition of accomplishment for Zoey? To have 100,000 Instagram followers.
BLACK-ISH)
Rounding out the family was six-year-old twins, Diane and Jack (Marsai Martin Miles Brown). Diane is gifted and talented.
She thinks she has all the answers but has yet to develop a filter to put them through. Although she is one minute older than Jack, she likes to think she is smarter than her twin brother by ten thousand minutes.
Young Jack was more of the sensitive type and idolizes his dad.
He was quick to give his father a compliment, even if it does come out a little awkward.
Dre was sincere about honoring his family’s past, while also embracing its future. As he defines what the American dream means to his family in a multi-cultural world, one idea keeps surfacing.
It appears that in this melting pot called America, we are all a little um, “black-ish.”
Throughout its farewell season, the Emmy Award-nominated comedy series “black-ish” continued to tell stories that shined a light on current events through the lens of the Johnson family.
The eighth and final season of “black-ish” featured a very special guest, Michelle Obama in the season premiere.
“black-ish” was created by Kenya Barris and executive-produced by Barris, Larry Wilmore, Anthony Anderson, Laurence Fishburne, Helen Sugland and E. Brian Dobbins. The series was produced by ABC Studios.
The show’s success prompted a spin-off titled “Grown-ish,” which stars Shahidi, and later Marcus Scribner, in their respective characters Zoey and Junior in attend college.
The short-lived prequel series, “Mixed-ish,” centered on a young Bow and her biracial family in the 1980s.
The series “black-ish” ran from September 24th, 2014, to April 19th, 2022, running for eight seasons with 176 episodes.
UB’s Review of The Pilot;“black-ish” is a new ABC sitcom featuring our favorite girlfriend Tracee Ellis Ross who plays Rainbow, Anthony Anderson who plays Dr. Johnson and Laurence Fishburne who plays Dr. Johnson‘s father. Andre ‘Dr’ Johnson (Anthony Anderson) has a great job, a beautiful wife, Rainbow (Tracee Ellis Ross), four kids and a colonial home in the suburbs. But has success brought too much assimilation for this black family? With a little help from his Dad (Laurence Fisburne), Dre sets out to establish a sense of cultural identity for his family that honors their past while embracing the future.
During the private screening, Tracee Ellis Ross explained that she doesn’t want the viewers to get too caught up into the shows title. “The show is simply about a black family that goes through ish” says Tracee. “Of course we poke fun at racial topics but that’s the point of the show simply because it’s a comedy. We are here to make you laugh.” While laughing is an understatement (prepare for your stomach to hurt from non stop laughter), there are also many lessons that are taught throughout the show and its’ definitely a great show for the entire family to sit down and watch.
It’s amazing to see a new black show with black lead characters on network television. What’s even better is to see that the ABC network truly believes in this program from their relentless marketing campaigns and also placing “black-ish” behind It’s lead-show, Modern Family. As long as people tune in and watch, it’s a win-win situation for the entire “black-ish” cast and ABC. They definitely deliver the goods, now it’s time for you to support them. – JDot. (UrbanBridgez.com)
Starring; Anthony Anderson
as Andre “Dre” JohnsonAnd
Tracee Ellis Ross
as Rainbow Johnson
Laurence Fishburne
as Pops Johnson
Yara Shahidi
as Zoey Johnson
Marcus Scribner
as Andre Johnson Jr.
Marsai Martin
as Diane Johnson
Miles Brown
as Jack Johnson
Jenifer Lewis
as Ruby JohnsonPeter Mackenzie
as Mr. StevensDeon Cole
as Charlie TelphyJeff Meacham
as Josh
Just some of the many guest-stars who appeared on “black-ish” include; Michelle Obama, Simone Biles, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Magic Johnson, Daveed Diggs, Vivica A. Fox, Andrew “KingBach” Bachelor, Stephen A. Smith, Reid Scott, Los Angeles Lakers Dwight Howard, Kent Bazemore, DeAndre Jordan, Malik Monk, and Kendrick Nunn.
Also Zendaya, Rashida Jones, Wanda Sykes, Octavia Spencer, Tyra Banks, Mary J. Blige, and Regina Hall.
“black-ish” Received Many Awards and Accolades:
2017 Golden Globe Awards – Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy Tracee Ellis Ross
2017 MTV Movie & TV Awards – Best American Story Black-ish2015 NAACP Image Awards – Outstanding Comedy Series Black-ish
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series Anthony Anderson
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series Tracee Ellis Ross
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Yara Shahidi
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Laurence Fishburne2016 NAACP Image Award – Outstanding Comedy Series Black-ish Won
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series Anthony Anderson
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series Tracee Ellis Ross
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Marsai Martin2017 NAACP Image Awards – Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series Kenya Barris for “Hope”
Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited Series) Marsai Martin2018 NAACP Image Awards – Outstanding Comedy Series Black-ish
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series Anthony Anderson
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series Tracee Ellis Ross
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Marsai Martin
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series Anton Cropper for “Juneteenth”2021 NAACP Image Awards – Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series Anthony Anderson
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Deon Cole
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Marsai Martin
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series Anya Adams for “Hair Day”
Outstanding Performance by a Youth Marsai Martin2015 Peabody Award Entertainment honoree Black-ish
2020 Primetime Emmy Awards – Outstanding Contemporary Hairstyling Araxi Lindsey, Robert C. Mathews III and Enoch Williams (for “Hair Day”)
2016/2017 TCA Awards Outstanding Achievement in Comedy Black-ish
2017 Young Artist Awards – Best Performance in a TV Series – Supporting Young Actor Anthony LaPenna
Watch creator Kenya Barris discuss his own personal experiences growing up, raising a family and his inspiration behind creating “black-ish.”
TV One is celebrating 10 years of Black-ish and introducing it to TV One! Join them and Anthony Anderson for their newest #TVOnederland sitcom’s 10th Anniversary marathon, kicking off on Friday, Sept. 27th at 8p/7c.
You must be logged in to post a comment.